scubish.com: Travel information for Brussels-bruxelles

Brussels (French: Bruxelles, Dutch: Brussel; ) is the capital city of Belgium. As headquarters of many European institutions Brussels might also be considered something of a capital for the European Union. The fact, moreover, that Brussels acts as political capital of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) serves to give the city a Transatlantic twist. Lying at the crossroads of cultures (the Germanic in the north and the Romantic in the South) and playing an important role in Europe Brussels fits the definition of the archetypal "melting pot", but nonetheless retains its own unique character. Population of the Brussels metropolitan area is just over 2 million.

Districts

Brussels is split into eighteen communes or gemeenten (municipalities/boroughs).

Bruxelles/Brussel - From the deeply ornate buildings on the Grand'Place (Grote Markt), to the fish-and-crustacean overdose of St. Catherine's Square (Place St-Catherine / Sint-Katelijneplein), to the many bars on Place St-Géry (Sint-Goriks), to the trendy Rue Antoine Dansaert (Antoine Dansaertstraat), to the physically imposing Stock Exchange (Bourse / Beurs) - this is the best place to start exploring the city.

Ixelles - Elsene - A vibrant part of town with a high concentration of restaurants, bars and other services to satisfy the good-looking or the heavy-spending. Some wandering about will reveal small bookshops, affordable ethnic restaurants or independent record shops tucked away in side streets. The Matongé district just off Chaussée d'Ixelles is the city's main african neighbourhood.

Marolles/Marollen - Not a municipality, but a neighbourhood (part of Bruxelles - Brussel) close to the city's heart. Although this was one of the few places where the Brussels dialect could still be heard this is increasingly rare nowadays. The area is best known for the flea market held daily on the Place du Jeu de Balle (Vossenplein) as well as a plethora of shops selling everything from old radios and bent wipers to fine china and expensive art nouveau knick-knacks. Visit on Saturdays or Sundays.

Saint-Gilles/Sint-Gillis - The city's bohemian epicentre with thriving French, Portuguese, Spanish, Maghrebi and Polish communities. The area around the Parvis de St-Gilles (St-Gillisvoorplein) is the arty part, with the area around the Chatelain and the Church of the Holy Trinity being decidedly more yuppified. Like Schaerbeek, Saint-Gilles boasts several art nouveau and Haussmann-style buildings.

St-Josse/Sint-Joost - The smallest and poorest commune not just in Brussels but in Belgium, this predominantly Turkish commune might not always be too pleasing on the eye but does have a few small, welcoming streets. The mid-part of the Chaussée de Louvain is also home to a relatively small Indo-Pakistani community, so this is the place to head to for a tikka masala.

Schaerbeek/Schaarbeek - While there might be little of immediate interest in this commune to the casual visitor, it does host some very ornate art nouveau buildings. The Chaussée de Haecht is also the heart of Brussels' vast Turkish neighbourhood and has more Turkish restaurants than you can shake a pide at.

Jette - Jette, together with Koekelberg and Ganshoren, are three communes in the north-west of Brussels. These green(-ish), mainly residential communes house the Basilica of Koekelberg on their shared territory.

Uccle/Ukkel - Brussels' poshest commune. Green, bourgeois and starched like all posh communes should be. Uccle has, however, retained many of its charming medieval cul-de-sacs, tiny squares and small townhouses as has nearby Watermael-Boitsfort (Watermaal-Bosvoorde).

Molenbeek - That's Molenbeek-St-Jean (or Sint-Jans-Molenbeek) to you. A commune with an overwhelmingly large Moroccan, and lately, Romanian population. With a reputation for being insalubrious, if not downright dangerous, this is a place few locals venture to - let alone tourists.

WSP/WSL - Woluwé-Saint-Pierre and Woluwé-Saint-Lambert are two communes at the eastern end of the city. Not particularly attractive or cheap, but well-loved by Eurocrats and other professional types. Mainly residential with clusters of mid-rise apartment blocks dominating the skyline (in parts). The vast Wolubilis cultural complex is well worthy of a visit.

Understand

As Brussels became the capital city of a new country in the 19th century, the old town was destroyed to make way for brand new ministries, palaces, schools, army barracks and office blocks all built between 1880 and 1980, approximately. That is why such a disappointingly small historic centre (one square and four adjacent streets) was preserved, and why most tourists only visit Brussels as an afterthought. Most indeed concentrate on the classic top 4 of Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven.

Brussels operates as a bilingual city where both French and Dutch are official languages. Thus all the streets have two names, which can sound totally different. For example, the Main Square is called both la Grand Place and de Grote Markt. Although French is the lingua franca, the proportion of French and Dutch-speakers is different in different neigbourhoods and boroughs. English is also widely understood.

You can see what's going on in Brussels by picking up a copy of local free city rag Zone 02 (French and Dutch). Another good free listings paper is Agenda - the latter is distributed together with the dutch-language weekly Brussel Deze Week and has the notable advantage of being published in three languages (English, Dutch, French). Both of these are distributed in cafés and bars around the city. If you're looking for a good party Net Events (French and Dutch) and Brussels Sucks... might be a good place to start.

Brussels Agenda is the official cultural and entertainment agenda of the City of Brussels and the francophone Médiatheque have a concert listings page featuring the upcoming concerts in Brussels and the rest of Belgium. Be aware, however, that their listings page is quite a personal endeavor so it only features the concerts the médiatheque staff are interested in.

Get in

By plane

Brussels' main airport is Zaventem, IATA code BRU. From the airport, a train (€ 2.60) runs every 15 mins to Brussels city centre, the journey taking 25 minutes. There is also a bus line number 12 and 11 (€ 3) every 20 to 30 minutes via Rondpoint Schumann to the Place de Luxembourg(European Parliament) district, from where the same ticket is valid for another 30 minutes on the metro or busses into the centre. A taxi to the centre costs around € 20 (as of 2004) when booked in advance, otherwise around € 30. Taxis bleus: 02 268 0000, Taxi Brussels: 02 411 4142, Taxis verts: 02 349 4343. If you've just arrived at the airport's train station, first check the time of the next train then go up one level and check whether a bus 11 or 12 is about to depart and take whichever is quicker depending on your final destination.

There are several budget airlines flying to Brussels Charleroi airport (list flights), IATA code CRL, which lies one hour away from Brussels city centre by coach (€ 10.50), or by bus to Charleroi station and then by train. You can also get a taxi from the airport to the city centre, but this will cost approximately € 90 and is a fixed price.

Since 2006 cash withdrawal is not a problem in Charleroi Airport. An ATM was installed in the main hall, next to the car hire counters.

Antwerp airport, IATA code ANR, also has a good train connection to Brussels.

By train

Brussels has two main train stations: Bruxelles Midi-Brussel Zuid, to the south of the city core, and Bruxelles Central-Brussel Centraal, which is right next to the city centre. Unfortunately, high-speed trains stop only at Midi/Zuid, so you need to take the Metro (or an ordinary train) a few stops north to get to Grand Place.

The high speed Thalys train connects Brussels with Cologne (2h45), Paris (1h20) and Amsterdam (3h00). There are numerous rebates for in advance, to over € 150 single on the day.

There is also an hourly eurocity from Brussels midi/central/north to Amsterdam (via Rotterdam, The Hague, Schiphol airport). A dayreturn from Brussels to Amsterdam takes 2:50 hours. You don't need a reservation. A weekend return ticket costs € 41.40.

The Eurostar train line links Midi/Zuid with Lille Europe (39m from € 22), Ashford (1h38m from € 40) and London Waterloo (2h27m from € 40).

Eurostar bookings and queries at tel.: 02 528 28 28.

German ICE connects once a day to Frankfurt (93€ one way).

Travellers can also arrive to or depart from Brussels Noord, which is a 15-minute walk from Grand Place. Train tickets are available to Amsterdam as well as other destinations. The location is by Place Rogier and includes 3 hotel complexes (the Sheraton, Hilton & Crown Plaza).

By bus

Eurolines (Tel: 02 274.13.50 Fax. 02 201.11.40, Tel UK +44 (0)15.82.40.45.11) offers bus travel from many countries to Brussels, for example 8 hours from London Victoria station at € 39. In Brussels, they stop outside the Gare du Nord-Noordstation and Gare du Midi-Zuidstation train stations.

Gulliver's (Tel: +49 30 311 0 211) offers bus travel from Germany to many countries, for example 11 hours from Hamburg at € 19 in advance, € 46 normal price.

Get around

By train & bus

Brussels has 3 metro lines, many buses and several tram lines, all run by STIB-MIVB.
A card that can be used for ten rides with public transport costs €11.
One hour tickets cost €1.50 if pre-purchased and are available from the driver for €2. One, five and ten ride tickets are available at almost all metro and train stations. You validate the ticket in the small orange machines located in buses/trams, or at the entrace to metro stations/major tram stops. The orange machines time-stamp the ticket, both in ink and magnetically, and it will be valid for one hour. You can interrupt your ride and interchangeably use any STIB/MIVB transport. You should revalidate your ticket for each new ride.
There are also one-day tickets available, for € 4,00.
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays you can take another person with you.

Home page of the STIB-MIVB: French | Dutch

Prices : French | Dutch

Route map : French | Dutch

Route finder (with printable routes and maps) French | Dutch

Other forms of transport are:

The train service NMBS/SNCB: http://www.b-rail.be Tel: 02 528 28 28

The Flemish region (Dutch speaking) public bus service De Lijn: http://www.delijn.be Tel: 070 220 200

The Walloon region (French speaking) public bus company TEC: http://www.infotec.be Tel: 010 23 53 53

By bike
Since 2006, the city offers low-cost short-term "CycloCity" rentals at various fixed locations near the central city. You need a credit card to rent a bike. The minimum is €0.50 for the first half hour, any additional hour costs €1, registration costs €1.50 and lasts a week. Be aware that the city is not bike friendly at all, and only recently has it started to provide some street marking for bikes. It is advisable to wear a helmet and a fluo vest. The bikes are robust, but rather heavy, sometimes an inconvenience on Brussels' many hills. More detailed information can be found here (French and Dutch).

See

Landmarks

the Grand Place-Grote Markt . Surrounded by the city tower and a range of beautiful 300 year old buildings. At night, awesome. Some evenings a music and light show is provided with the buildings serving as a canvas. Have a "Gauffre Liègoise-Luikse wafel" here (Belgian waffle with caramelized sugar)—the best ones are available from the little shops off the northeast corner of the Grand Place-Grote Markt.

Manneken Pis, - just a short walk from the Grand Place-Grote Markt is the Manneken Pis, a small bronze statue thought to represent the "irreverent spirit" of Brussels. This statue of a child performing one of Nature's most basic functions is believed to have been inspired either by a child who, while in a tree, found a special way to drive away invading troops, OR to commemorate a child who found a unique method putting out a fire, that threathened the city. Belgians have created hundred of outfits for this statue , each with a hole strategically placed to allow the water flow to continue.

Atomium built for the 1958 Brussels World Fair (Expo ’58), it is a 335 foot tall representation of an atom. More precisely, it is symbolic of a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Nine steel spheres 54 feet in diameter connect via tubes with elevators 105 feet long. Windows in the top sphere provide an awesome panoramic view of Brussels. Originally planned to last only six months, the Atomium is still today the most popular attraction in Brussels.

Waterloo Battlefield, Lion Mound Official website

Come and discover Waterloo Battlefied. See the battlefield exactly like it was June the 18th of 1815 when Wellington faced Napoleon for an ultimate battle that changed Europe's face forever. Visit the Lion Hamlet and experience the new animation: Battlefield Tour.

Parc du Cinquantenaire-Jubelpark Definitely check out the Arc de Triomphe-Triomfboog on the east side of town. It's in the Parc du Cinquantenaire-Jubelpark. Take Metro line 1 east, exit Schumann and walk east or exit Mérode and walk west.

Brave the tourist-trap restaurant gauntlet of the Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwersstraat

the Bourse

Museums and Galleries

Les Musées royaux d'Art et d'Histoire (MRAH) - De Koninklijke Musea voor Kunst en Geschiedenis (KMKG) , Parc du Cinquantenaire 10, tel +32 (0)2 741 72 11, open Tu-Fr 9.30am-5pm, Sa-Su and holidays 10am-5pm, closed Mo and various holidays, last entry 4pm; adults €5 -

The Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts-Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten feature both historical art and modern art in the one building. Opening hours: Museum of Historical Art Tues-Sun 10am-noon and 1-5pm; Museum of Modern Art Tue-Sun 10am-1pm and 2-5pm. Address: Rue de la Régence-Regentschapstraat 3, at Place Royale-Koningsplein, Phone: 02/508-32-11, Prices: € 5.00 adults, € 2.50 students/seniors/disabled visitors, € 1.25 children 12-18, under 12 free. Description: In a vast museum of several buildings, this complex combines the Musée d'Art Ancien-Museum voor Oude Kunst and the Musée d'Art Moderne-Museum voor Moderne Kunst under one roof (connected by a passage). The collection shows off works, most of them Belgian, from the 14th to the 20th century, starting in the historical section, with Hans Memling's portraits from the late 15th century, which are marked by sharp lifelike details, works by Hiëronymus Bosch, and Lucas Cranach's Adam and Eve. You should particularly seek out the subsequent rooms featuring Pieter Brueghel, including his Adoration of the Magi. Don't miss his unusual Fall of the Rebel Angels, with grotesque faces and beasts. But don't fear -- many of Brueghel's paintings, like those depicting Flemish village life, are of a less fiery nature. Later artists represented include Rubens, Van Dyck, Frans Hals, and Rembrandt. Next door, in a circular building connected to the main entrance, the modern art section has an emphasis on underground works - if only because the museum's eight floors are all below ground level. The collection includes works by van Gogh, Matisse, Dalí, Tanguy, Ernst, Chagall, Miró, and local boys Magritte, Delvaux, De Braekeleer and Permeke. Don't miss David's famous "Death of Marat."

the Horta Museum , 25, rue Américaine, Saint-Gilles, tel + 32 2 543 04 90, fax +32 2 538 76 31, mailto:info@hortamuseum.be, open daily 2pm-5.30pm, closed Mo, admission adults €7, students / seniors €3, guided tours available by appointment, tram 81, tram 92 (place Janson), bus 54 - the home of noted Belgian art nouveau architect and designer Victor Horta. Seeing where he lived and worked is a great way to get an introduction to the art nouveau style in Brussels. It is one of four Horta works to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List

the Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée - Belgisch Centrum voor het Beeldverhaal , Rue de Sables-Zandstraat 20, tel +32 2 219.19.80, fax +32 2 219.23.76, mailto:visit@cbbd.be, open daily 10am-6pm, closed Mo - popularly known as the CéBeBeDé

Musée d'Afrique Centrale Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA), Leuvensesteenweg 13, 3080 Tervuren - tram 44, The Museum is home to some truly remarkable collections. Its collection of ethnographic objects from Central Africa is in fact the only one of its kind in the world. It also has in its keeping the entire archives of Henry Morton Stanley which are of great historical value.

Musée BD is located in Europe's earliest Shopping-Mall (a shine Jugendstil palais). There is a permanent exposition featuring the early beginning of comics as well as it's development. There is enough room for other varying expositions. Tue-Sun 10am-6pm. Prices: € 7.50 adults, € 6.00 students/seniors. The bookshop Bd at the ground floor sells many different comics. A readers' library operates on the ground floor, where, for a low entrance fee, you can read many different comic books.

Snapping up a Bargain at the Flea Market. Each day, from 7am to 2pm, the Marché aux Puces-Vlooienmarkt in Place du Jeu de Balle-Vossenplein offers everything from the weird to the wonderful at rock-bottom prices.

Taking a Ferry Trip. The ferry in question is a tiny, electrically operated pontoon that makes a 1-minute crossing to Robinson's Island in the lake at the heart of Bois de la Cambre.

The BIFF is Brussels' international fantasy film festival (film fantastique in french)

See the history of film-making at Musée du Cinéma-Filmmuseum, it's free to look around, and classic and cult films are shown at low prices. Rue Baron Hortastraat, walk from Gare Centrale-Centraalstation.

Further Afield

Take Metro line 1A direction Roi Baudouin-Koning Boudewijn and alight at Heysel-Heizel.

the Atomium , approximately 5 mins easy walk from the station - re-opened on February 18 2006 after renovation work was completed.

Europe in miniature

Cinema

Brussels is well catered for when it comes to film. French films are subtitled in Dutch, and vice versa, all other films are shown in the original version subtitled in French and Dutch.

The cooperative nouveau cinema run the Actors Studio and the Styx. Both cinemas screen interesting films in their original version with French and Dutch subtitles. Actor's studio, Petite Rue des Bouchers - Kleine Beenhouwersstraat, Brussels 1000, tel: 025121696. or Cinéma Styx, Rue de l'Arbre Bénit - Gewijde Boomstraat 72, Ixelles-Elsene 1050

Cinema Nova is an independent-to-the-bone cinema showcasing the more esoteric side of cinema - films which would not be shown elsewhere are generally shown here. A Korean Ultraman rip-off, a Pakistani documentary or a bleak Chilean cinema vérité flick? Only at Nova. Nova Cinema, 3 rue Arenberg-Arenbergstraat, Brussels 1000

Arenberg. The Arenberg is a good arthouse cinema with a well-programmed selection of films. Especially good for the newer arthouse flicks. Cinéma Arenberg, 26 Galerie de la Reine - Koninginnegalerij, Brussels 1000

Royal Film Museum. The Musée du Cinema/Filmmuseum is part of the Centre for Fine Arts and features a carefully chosen selection of contemporary and classic arthouse films. The best thing about this isn't just the building (due to be restored soon) but also the fact that the entrance fee is cheap. So if you can't live without your dose of Werner Herzog or Jan Svankmajer fret not - this place won't cost you an arm and a leg. Royal Film Museum, 9 Rue Baron Horta - Baron Hortastraat, Brussels 1000

The Vendome is yet another arthouse cinema. It's located near the Porte de Namur (Naamsepoort) and acts as the metaphysical gateway to a lively african neighbourhood known locally as Matongé. Vendome, 18 Chaussée de Wavre - Waversesteenweg, Ixelles-Elsene 1050

The Flagey is the old broadcasting headquarters and now houses the regional TV station tvbrussel. It labels itself 'the sound and images factory'. Quite an apt description - arthouse films, theatre pieces or world-renowned musicians are all featured here. Flagey, Place Sainte-Croix - Heilig-kruisplein, Ixelles-Elsene 1050

UGC De Brouckère. This is the most centrally located UGC in Brussels. Other branches exist in Ixelles and near the Heysel plateau (next to the Atomium). As far as programming goes it's the usual Hollywood and mainstream European fare you'd expect from any other UGC in Europe. UGC De Brouckère, 38 Place De Brouckère - De Brouckèreplein, Brussels 1000

Buy

Shopping at Galeries Saint Hubert-Sint Hubertusgalerijen. The world's first shopping mall, opened in 1847, is a light and airy triple-gallery enclosing boutiques, bookshops, cafés, restaurants, and a theater and cinema.

Beer Mania claims to have a stock of over 400 beers.

Film :

Excellence, 94 - 96 Boulevard Anspachlaan. A must for all movielovers. Great collection classics and rare dvd's, books, vintage movie posters, screenprints, postcards, ... . +32 2 502 84 68

Books :

* Comic books and rare books. De Slegte on Rue des Grands Carmes-Lievevrouwbroersstraat, FNAC on Rue Neuve-Nieuwstraat

Brusel, 100 Boulevard Anspachlaan. Right in the center and one of the most up to date store when it comes to contemporary comics.

Filigranes, largest bookshop in Brussels, open 7 days a week, features a small bar/café inside and quite often live music, located at 39 Avenue des Arts-Kunstlaan.

Sterling Books One of the more popular english bookshops in downtown Brussels

* Pele-Mele, Boulevard Maurice Lemonnierlaan, 55 & 59 (Metro "Anneessens") - maze-like, second-hand bookshop with huge selection of used books at bargain prices. Bookworm's paradise! You can't afford to miss it!

Waterstone's, 71-75 Boulevard Adolphe Maxlaan (Metro "De Brouckère"). English-language books.

FNAC, City 2 commercial center, Rue neuve. A big book/CD/DVD/electronics shop.

Mediamarkt, 111-123 Rue Neuve. This shop is at the uppermost level of the Galeria Inno department store. Sells CDs, DVDs and consumer electronics. Slightly cheaper than FNAC.

Chocolate:

Marcolini, 39 Place du Grand Sablon. Arguably the best belgian chocolates.

Wittamer, 6-12-13 Place du Grand Sablon. Another excellent chocolate maker.

General shopping along Rue Neuve-Nieuwstraat with GB supermarket at City 2 accessed from Rue Neuve-Nieuwstraat and Metro Rogier.

Galeria Inno, 111-123 Rue Neuve. Department store (fashion, cosmetics, etc.)

Belgian Lace is among the best in the world. Several shops are located at the Grand' Place-Grote Markt itself.

Eat

There is plenty of good eating to be had in Brussels.... Most people concentrate on the three classics: mussels (moules), fries (frites) and chocolate. A few more adventurous bruxellois dishes include anguilles au vert / palink in't groen (river eels in green sauce), meat balls in tomato sauce, stoemp (mashed vegetables and potatoes) and turbot waterzooi (turbot fish in cream and egg sauce). For dessert, try a Belgian waffle (gauffre), also available in a square Brussels version dusted with powdered sugar, although many prefer the round, syrup-coated version from Liège.

Budget

The matter over which establishment serves up the best frites (locally known as fritkots) remains a matter of heated debate. Some argue that the best frites in Brussels are served at the fritkot near the Barriere de Saint-Gilles, while others defend St-Josse's Martin (Place Madou) as the prime purveyor of the authentic Brussels frite just as others claim Antoine remains the king of the local french fry.

Maison Antoine, Place Jourdanplein - tasty fries with a large collection of sauces situated on a square close to the European Parliament. You can eat your fries (frites) in one of the several bars/cafés that carries the sign frites accepté.

Chez Martin. The small nondescript fritkot plonked on Place Madou (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode/Sint-Joost-ten-Node) and run by the calm and affable Martin is a serious contender for the best friterie in Brussels. You can eat your frites at the nearby Cafe Gambrinus and wash them down with a pintje or two.

La Friterie de la Place de la Chapelle, rue Haute-Hoogstraat (near Les Marolles). Another personal choice for the best frites in Brussels: the big chunks, fried golden, with the usual dazzling array of sauces.

Arcadi, 1B rue d'Aremberg, just at the exit of "Galleries de la Reine", in the direction opposite to the Grand-Place - a quirky combination of old and new, the menu ranges all over the place but the reason people flock here is the selection of over 30 sweet and savoury pies (tartes). A slice big enough for a meal, served with salad, costs €4-6.

Delivery

Quality food is available online in and around Brussels from various companies, including the webportal ebistro .

Mid-range

Brussels' tourist restaurant gauntlet can be found in Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwerstraat , just to the north of Grand Place. The place has a bad reputation for waiters imposing themselves on passer-by's, trying to lure customers into their restaurant. The authorities are aware of this, and are trying to take measures. Some restaurants may also tempt you with cheap prices for the menus, but when seated, the item on the menu happens to be unavailable, and you're forced to accept another, noticeably more expensive dish. Often, the exaggerated price of the wines will also compensate for the attractive menu. Knowing this however, you may be able to negociate a better deal before entering.

A few restaurants stand out from the crowd, though:

Aux Armes de Bruxelles, 13 Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwerstraat, tel +32 2 511 5550, closed Mo - basic honest food, including some very decent moules. Crowded.

Chez Léon, 18, Rue des Bouchers, tel. +32 2 511 1415, . Now franchised into France as well, but this is the original and, while it's huge and it looks like a tourist trap, the moules are excellent and it's packed every day. Moules, beer and a starter will set you back €25, and kids eat for free.

Scheltema, 7, Rue des Dominicains, tel. 02/512.20.84. . Specialized in seafood.

Outside the Rue des Bouchers, you may try:

Au Pré Salé, 20, Rue de Flandre-Vlaamsesteenweg (near place St Catherine), tel. +32 2 513 6545. A former butcher shop, which explains the white tiled walls and minimal decoration, but locals flock here for some of the best moules in town, sold by the kilo (figure on €24) and served up in half a dozen ways. Also serves the full range of other Brussels favorites.

Falstaff, 19, Rue Henri Mausstraat 19 (by the Bourse-Beurs), . Has decent food and is open every day until 02:00, around 20-30 Euros.

Le Beau Soleil, 7, Rue Joseph Lebeau. This tiny restaurant (approx. 14 seats) looks like a violin workshop, so you sit next to all the tools and half finished violins. Unlike other Belgian restaurants, it is open from 9am to 5pm (Mo-Fr), 9am to 6pm (Sat,Sun), closed on Wednesday. The menu is small, really delicious. (I had the best quiche and cheese cake of my life!). The atmosphere is informal, so do not expect a formal restaurant atmosphere. It is more like being invited by friends. Tel.: 0479420382.

Les Brassins, Rue Keyenveld-Keienveldstraat 36, Ixelles-Elsene, . It's audience is mostly made out of young couples or students. Rich choice of beer, good quality of food. Tel.: +32 2 512 6999

Close to the Bourse Jules Van Praetstraat (rue Jules Van Praet) is another rapidly developing street of restaurants and bars. Those of note include:

Shamrock. Its unpreposessing exterior and misleading name bely a great range of individually cooked indian food. Get to know the owner and he'll treat you like an old friend. Tel.: +32 2 511 49 89

Thanh-Binh . The restaurant is very popular amongst the Euroworkers and business types common in Brussels and serves good Thai food. It can get crowded and is often noisy but is well worth a try. Tel.: +32 2 513 81 18

Place Saint Catherine is also a popular area, once the fishmongering centre of Brussels. While many of the fish shops have moved elsewhere it is still home to many good seafood restaurants featuring lobster as a speciality.

It is outside the touristic centre that the best deals can be found. Here are a few adresses in the Upper Town and Louise Area:

Madou's Provence, 23, Rue de la Presse, Bruxelles. Tel. +32 2 217 3831. Closed Saturday noon and Sundays. Innovative southern French cuisine at affordable prices.

Chez Oki, 62, Rue Lesbroussart, Ixelles-Elsene . French-Japanese fusion cuisine in a modern decor. The chef has worked for prestigious restaurants in Paris. Reasonable prices.

Splurge

Belga Queen , Rue du Fossé aux Loups-Wolvengracht 32 - a restaurant within an old, restored bank building. Has an oyster bar, gorgeous bathrooms (with strange stall doors), and a cigar bar housed in the old bank vaults. The young and well-to-do seem to enjoy this place a lot.

Taverne du Passage , Galerie de la Reine-Koninginnegalerij, tel +32 2512 3731 - an old-style luxurious restaurant.

Les Larmes du Tigres (Tears of the Tiger) , Justitiepaleis, de Wynantsstraat 21, closed Tu, tel +32 2512 18 77 - upmarket and stylish Thai restaurant found just behind the Palais de Justice and better than most food I've eaten in Thailand.

De Gulden Boot (la Chaloupe d'Or), 24, Grote Markt (Grand Place) - One of the most famous restaurants in Brussels, situated on Grand Place. Beautiful old building, but too much of at tourist trap. And even after a 200 € dinner, you will get charged 0.5 € if you visit the toilet.

Vegetarian

Dolma - a very nice vegetarian buffet Monday till Saturday from 19 till 21h . Chaussée d'Ixelles 329. Reservation 02/6498981

La Tsampa' - a organic/vegetarian shop annex restaurant , closed on Saturday and Sunday. Rue de Livourne 109.

Drink

Pubs

Belgium is to beer what France is to wine: it is home to one of the greatest beer traditions in the world, and Brussels is a great place to sample some of the vast variety on offer.

A La Bécasse, Rue de Taborastraat 11. Tel: 02 511 0006. Serves a typical Brussels product this slightly sweetened Lambic beer, white beer based on Lambic, Kriek Lambic and so on. The entrance is not that easy to find.

A La Mort Subite, 7, rue Montagne-aux-Herbes Potagères, . "At the Sudden Death" may not sound like the most pleasant of places for a drink, but this unpretentious brasserie has been serving their trademark brew of the same name, available in gueuze and kriek versions, for four generations now. €3.50 for the house beers.

Bier Circus, 57, Rue de l'Enseignement-Onderrichtsstraat, tel: 02 218 00 34, . Has an impressive selection of beers, including some extremely hard to find beers. Examples of rare beers they have in stock, are Lam Gods (a delicious beer brewed from figs) and the rarest of the Trappist beers, winner of the Beer of the Year 2005, Westvleteren.

BXL Cafe/Bar is a stylish, friendly internet cafe in the center of Brussels. Offering high speed internet access, occasional live music/DJ, latest movies shown on video screens around the bar, regular art exhibitions. Gay friendly space with women's night every Wednesday from 20h00. Open 7/7 12h00>24h00 (Fri/Sat>01h00). Place de la Vieille Halle aux Blés-Oud Korenhuis 46, Tel: 02/502 9980.

Delirium Cafe, 4A, Impasse de la Fidelité-Getrouwheidsgang (on a pedestrian only sidestreet), tel. +32-25144434. Right in the centre of Brussels within five minutes walk of the Grand Place. This bar is all about the beer, offering 3000+ different variations from all over the world. Popular amongst foreigners. Check if they have your own local beer. View their website for more info.

Chez Moeder Lambiek, Rue Savoiestraat 68, behind Saint Gilles-Sint-Gillis city hall has the largest list of different beers, with several hundred obscure beers not likely found anywhere else. This cafe is one of the last remaining old-fashioned brown cafe's in Brussels.

Le Greenwich, 7 Rue des Chartreux - Kartuizerstraat, tel: 32-2-511.41.67. Another wood-panelled brown cafe where the only sound is the sound of the chess pieces on the chess board. Shh!

Brasserie Verschueren, 11-13 Parvis de St-Gilles - Sint-Gillisvoorplein, tel: 02/539 40 68. Something of an institution in hip Saint-Gilles. Under the watchful eye of the portly, bearded deep-voiced owner, hipsters, starving artists and local poodle-brandishing ladies mingle and drink endless beers and coffees. A beautiful woodwork football (soccer) tableau shows the scores of some long lost second and third division teams from yesteryear...

Bars and clubs

Mapa Mundo Is one of the many Trendy bar/cafés located on the popular Place Saint Géry-Sint Goriksplein. You are assured good drinking in at least one of these establishments, which are very popular with younger Eurocrats, foreigners and interns, giving them a rather friendly cosmopolitan character. Place Saint Géry-Sint Goriksplein 2, Tel: 02/5143555.

Le Tavernier While all the above locations are situated downtown in central brussels, this location is the most popular bar on a strip of bars right by the Cimétière d'Ixelles-Kerkhof van Elsene. It's location right off the student campus make it extremely popular with students who just want to kick back and have a few relaxed drinks. Note on certain nights there is also live music (making the establishment alot more hectic). Worth a look especially towards the beginning and end of the academic year and in the summer (especially for their Jazzbreaks nights). They also have a website. 445 Chaussée de Boondael-Boondaalsesteenweg.

Gays and Lesbians may want to check out the Next monthly parties, very eclectic and fun. But the two biggest monthly Gay clubs remain La Demence at the Fuse, and Strong parties at the Residence Palace. Both 100% House & Trance. Don't miss the crowded (but super small) Le Belgica bar, soft and Housy.

Hydra-breaks organises "Hydra Sessions" but also "Next Level" and "Caliente" drum and bass parties at various locations. Hydra Sessions are major D&B nights with international headliners such as Pendulum, Spor, or Raiden, along national deejays.

Bulex nights is a monthly night out for many locals since more than 10 years, blending all kind of music in unexpected venues, as well as their weekly edition Jeudibar. Come as you are.

Just behind the Grand Place at Rue des Pierres 50 1000 Brussels the Music Village is a great jazz club that is host to the annual International Young Jazz Singers Competition. Tel : +32 (0)2 / 513 13 45

Fuse. The Fuse (Rue Blaes 208) is where it all started - a Brussels institution. 'Nuff said.

The Botanique (Metro: Botanique/Kruidtuin) is the place for rock and pop. They do, on occasion, bring more experimental acts.

The Botanique's Flemish counterpart, the Ancienne Belgique features the same mix of rock and pop with the occasional excursion into more unchartered, experimental territory

Recyclart - for electronica, noise-rock, electroclash, minimal techno as well as art exhibitions, social projects and installations.

Magasin4 at Rue des Magasins 4 (Metro: Yser/Ijzer) is proud to be loud. Punk, hardcore, noise and even hip-hop and french chanson feature regularly here.

Le Bunker is so underground it hurts. A squat "owned" by a film-makers collective in the heart of Brussels' seedy red-light district. They regularly feature fringe acts - experimental music, noise, funeral folk and all sorts of weird and (sometimes) wonderful music.

RTT is another favorite for off-the-wall noisiness and weirdness

Structure Beton is the place for skewed electroclash, drum 'n' bass, drill 'n' bass and anything else 'n' bass

Sleep

Hotel rates in Brussels can vary widely (especially at the upper end) depending on how many EU bigwigs happen to be in town, but very good deals are often available in summer when the bureaucrats are on vacation.

Budget

Hostel Jacques Brel , Rue de la Sablonnière-Zavelput 30, +32 2 218 01 87 (Fax +32 2 217 20 05). Centrally located and within walking distance of the Beer Circus, but has a bad rep for being unclean and chaotic. Reception closes early and there's a curfew between 1 and 6 AM.

Youth Hostel Generation Europe, Rue de l'Eléphant-Olifantstraat 4, +32 2 410 38 58 (Fax +32 2 410 39 05). Offers beds for budget travelling.

Bugget Brussels Hotels, Rue du Damier 7, +32 2 310 16 71 (Fax +32 2 310 16 71). Offers budget hotels in Brussels from 50 USD.

Hotel A La Grande Cloche, Place Rouppeplein 10, +32 2 512 61 40 (Fax: +32 2 512 65 91) . Cheap rates, decent rooms, decent location halfway between Gare du Midi-Zuidstation and the Grand' Place-Grote Markt (about a 10-minute walk to either). Price around € 70.

Youth Hostel Sleep Well , Rue du Damier 23, +32 2 218 50 50 (Fax +32 2 218 13 13). Centrally located, very clean. Available double rooms with private facilities (about €60).

Hotel Aberdeen, Rue du Colombier 4, +32 2 223 52 58 (Fax +32 2 223 12 33), hotel-abberdeen@belgacom.net. Very centrally located (Rue Neuve), clean and comfortable, but quite noisy at night. In summer 2006, prices were about €55 per double room.

Mid-range

ApartmentsApart , . +48.22.820.9231 (1-866-387-6429 Toll Free from the USA & Canada). Beautifully furnished 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms offered. 5 minutes from the city center by Metro. Apartments start as low as € 118 per night for 4 guests (under € 30 per person). The friendly staff and extra services will ensure you a wonderful stay.

Arlequin, 17 to 19 Rue de la Fourche-Greepstraat, . Free Wi-Fi Internet.

La Madeleine Rue de la Montagne-Bergstraat 20-22, tel +32-2 513-29-73, fax +32-2 502-13-50, hotel-la-madeleine@hotel-la-madeleine.be. Just off the Grand' Place and a short walk away from Central Station. Room rates range from € 52 to over € 100. Breakfast included. The rooms are quite small but have the basic amenities such as phone, TV. No airconditioning however.

Opera is centrally placed on Rue Grétrystraat 53. Quoted price of 73 Euros may be negotiated downwards if booking a off-peak weekend or 3 or more days.

Villa Primavera , . Rue de la Presse-Drukpersstraat, 18, tel +32.475.501856. Fully-furnished studio-type, 1 & 2 bedrooms apartments from 1 night to 1 year. 5 minutes from the Central Station. Just behind the Belgian Parliament and Park of Brussels. Close to EU district. Room rates from € 60 for 4 guests for one-month stays (€ 15 per person). Free cable TV and Wi-Fi Internet access in every apartment.

Splurge

Hilton Brussels , 38, Boulevard de Waterloo, Brussels, Belgium 1000, tel +32-2-5041111, fax +32-2-5042111

Sofitel Brussels Toison d'Or, Avenue de la Toison d'Or-Gulden Vlieslaan 40 (subway station Louise-Louiza, turn to the right towards the Hilton - it's right across the street), tel +32 2 5142200 (fax: +32 2 5145744, email: H1071@accor-hotels.com), . A rather nice Sofitel with good rooms, conveniently located close to the very heart of the city in the fashionable Luisa district. €99 - €495 per person per night (breakfast €25/person - but there is a Quick fast food restaurant right next door'').

Sofitel Brussels Airport, Bessenveldstraat 15, Diegem, . 15 min. from city centre, 11 conference rooms up to 750 delegates. Contact: (+32)2/7136666

Radisson SAS Royal, Rue du Fosse-aux-Loups 47, +32-2-2192828, . Three minutes' walk from the Grand Place and the Central Station. Free Wifi, fitness center with sauna and solarium, restaurant "Sea Grill" has two Michelin stars. Rates from €95 per night.

Stay safe

Brussels is generally a very safe city. Some suburban neighborhoods have a poor reputation, but travelers are unlikely to visit them. However, pickpockets operate in crowded tourist areas, and the train and metro stations (particularly at night) attract drug addicts and other shady types. Travelers should be particularly alert for distractions such as being asked for the time or directions and having attention diverted from their hand or shopping bag.

Get out

You can get to any of the following 'foreign' cities from Brussels within 3 hours without the use of a plane:

Amsterdam/Rotterdam/The Hague/Utrecht (car - longer by train), Luxembourg (car or train), Paris (train - longer by car), London (by train), Aachen (train or car), Lille (less than an hour by train or car), Cologne/Bonn (train or car)

But first, visit the beautiful old Belgian cities of Bruges, Ghent, Namur, Antwerp, Leuven, ...

Brussels (Bruxelles, , and sometimes incorrectly bʁyksɛl by non-Belgian speakers of French; Brussel, ; Brüssel, ) is the capital of Belgium, of Flanders (consisting of both the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region) and of the French Community of Belgium, and it is the headquarters of most of the European Union's institutions.
Brussels is the capital city, in the centre of Belgium, and also the largest municipality of the Brussels-Capital Region. This municipality inside Brussels is correctly named The City of Brussels (French: Bruxelles-Ville or Ville de Bruxelles, Dutch: Stad Brussel), which is one of 19 municipalities that make up the Brussels-Capital Region (see also: Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region), with a total population of 1,024,492 inhabitants (1 January 2006). The municipality has a population of about 140,000. The Metropolitan area has about 2,090,000 inhabitants.
Brussels is also the political seat of NATO, the Western European Union (WEU) and EUROCONTROL, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation
(see: Political centre, below).

Etymology

The name Brussels comes from the old Dutch Bruocsella, Brucsella or Broekzele, which means "marsh (bruoc, bruc or broek) home (sella or zele)" or "home consisting of one room, in the marsh". "Broekzele" was spelt "Bruxelles" in French. In Belgian French pronunciation as well as in Dutch, the "k" eventually disappeared and "z" became "s", as reflected in the current Dutch spelling (French: ; Dutch: or ). The names of all other municipalities in the Brussels-Capital Region are also of Dutch origin, except for Evere, which is of Celtic origin.

History

Mention was already made of Brussels around 695: Bishop Saint-Gery of Cambrai settled a chapel on a small island. Saint Vindicianus, also a bishop of Cambrai, is said to have died in the neighbourhood of Brussels.
The founding of Brussels is usually situated around 979, because Duke Charles transferred the relics of Saint Gudula from Moorsel to the Saint Gery chapel in Brussels. The Holy Roman Emperor Otto II gave the duchy of Lower Lotharingia to Charles, the banished son of King Louis IV of France in 977.

The county of Brussels was attributed to Lambert I of Leuven, count of Leuven around 1000. In 1047, his son Lambert II of Leuven founded the Saint Gudula chapter.

In the 12th century the small town became an important stop on the trade route from Bruges (Brugge) and Ghent to Cologne. The village benefited from this favourable position and, as it grew to a population of around 30,000, the surrounding marshes were drained to allow for further expansion. The Counts of Leuven became Dukes of Brabant at about this time (1183/1184).

From 1357 to 1379, a new city wall was constructed as the former one was already proving to be too small: the inner ring or 'pentagon' now follows its course.

In the 15th century, by means of the wedding of heiress Margaret III of Flanders with Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, a new Duke of Brabant emerged from the House of Valois (namely Antoine, their son), with another line of descent from the Habsburgs (Maximilian of Austria, later Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, married Mary of Burgundy, who was born in Brussels).

Brabant had lost its independence, but Brussels became the Princely Capital of the prosperous Low Countries, and flourished.

Charles V, heir of the Low Countries since 1506, though (as he was only 6 years old) governed by his aunt Margaret of Austria until 1515, was declared King of the unified Spain, in 1516, in the Cathedral of Saint Gudule in Brussels.

Upon the death of his grandfather, Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1519, Charles became also the new archduke of the Austrian Empire and thus the Holy Roman Emperor of the Empire "in which the sun does not set". It was in the Palace complex at the Brussels' Coudenberg, that Charles V abdicated in 1555. This impressive palace, famous all over Europe, had expanded a lot since it was first the seat of the dukes of Brabant, but was sadly destroyed in 1731 in a huge fire (all that now remains is an archaeological site).

In 1695 Brussels was attacked by general Villeroy of King Louis XIV of France. A bombardment destroyed the city's heart: more than 4,000 houses were set on fire, including the medieval buildings on the Grote Markt or Grand Place.

In 1830, the Belgian revolution took place in Brussels after a performance of Auber's opera La Muette de Portici at De Munt or La Monnaie theatre. On July 21, 1831, Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians, ascended the throne, undertaking the destruction of the city walls and the construction of many buildings. Under Leopold II, the city underwent many more changes: the Zenne was culverted (as it brought diseases), the North-South Junction was built, and the Tervuren Avenue was laid out.

Beginning on May 10, 1940, Brussels was bombed by the German army; however, most of the war damage to the city was done in 1944–1945. The Heysel Stadium disaster took place in Brussels on May 29, 1985. The Brussels Capital Region was founded on June 18, 1989.

Brussels is famous for celebrating its history, as well as history in general. This is most evident in the fact that Brussels has well over 100 museums.

Political centre

Capital
Belgium

Although some believe, wrongly, that the capital of Belgium is the entire Brussels-Capital Region, article 194 of the Belgian Constitution lays down that the capital of Belgium is the City of Brussels municipality. Arguments that article 194's use of lower case for "ville de Bruxelles" and "stad Brussel" makes a subtle difference and means that greater Brussels is the capital cannot be legally defended. However, although the City of Brussels is the official capital, the funds allowed by the federation and region for the representative role of the capital are divided among the 19 municipalities, and some national institutions are sited in the other 18 municipalities. Thus, while de jure only the City of Brussels is entitled to the title of capital city of Belgium, de facto the entire Region plays this role.
Flanders and the French community
The Brussels-Capital Region is one of the three federated regions of Belgium, alongside Wallonia and the Flemish Region. Geographically and linguistically, it is a (bilingual) enclave in the (unilingual) Flemish Region. Regions are one component of Belgium's complex institutions, the three communities being the other component: the Brussels inhabitants must deal with either the French (speaking) community or the Flemish Community for matters such as culture and education.

Brussels is also the capital of both the French Community of Belgium (Communauté française de Belgique in French) and of Flanders (Vlaanderen); all Flemish capital institutions are established here: Flemish Parliament, Flemish government and its administration.

European Union
Two of the main institutions of the European Union - the European Commission and the Council of the European Union - have their headquarters in Brussels: the Commission in the Berlaymont building, and the Council in the Justus Lipsius building facing it. The third institution, the European Parliament, also has a parliamentary chamber in Brussels in which its committees meet and some of its plenary sessions are held (the other plenary sessions are held in Strasbourg, and its administrative headquarters are in Luxembourg). See also: Brussels and the European Union.

International organizations
Brussels is also the political seat of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the Western European Union (WEU) and EUROCONTROL, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. Due to this, some countries have three ambassadors present in Brussels: the normal bi-lateral ambassador, the EU-ambassador, and finally the NATO-ambassador.

Folklore

Brussels' identity owes much to its rich folklore and traditions, among the liveliest in the country:

A good introduction to the Brussels local dialect and way of life can be obtained at the House of Toone. This theatre of marionettes, originally located in the Marolles area, is now delivering its slapstick comedy in a 1696 estaminet a stone throw away from the Grand Place.

The Ommegang (Dutch: walking around) started in the 14th-century as a religious procession. Taking place every year in July, it now commemorates Charles V's Joyous Entry in the city in 1549. The colourful parade includes floats, traditional giant puppets, such as Saint Michael and Saint Gudula, and scores of folkloric groups, either on foot or on horseback, dressed in medieval garb. The parade ends in a pageant on the Grand Place.

The Meyboom (Dutch: tree of May) is an even older Brussels tradition (1308), which takes place paradoxically on August 9. After parading a young beech in the city, it is planted in a joyful spirit involving lots of music, brusseleir songs, and giant puppets.

Demographics

Linguistic situation
Brussels is officially bilingual, French, and Dutch, although French, mother tongue of the majority of the population, is the lingua franca and the most widely used language in Brussels. The historical indigenous language of Brussels were local Brabantian dialects of Dutch. Research in the city's archives shows that Dutch was by far the most widely used language in both the population and the local administration until the French occupation (1793–1815), even though French had been the language of the local governors since the Burgundian era. .

During the 19th century however, as literacy progressed, most dialect-speakers turned to French rather than to Dutch as their language of culture. The main reasons for this perhaps surprising fact is the higher prestige of the French language at the time - even the Flemish elites were French-speaking - and the perception that Dutch was the language of Catholic and rural Flanders, with which most people in Brussels felt they had little in common. Moreover, there was much discussion in Flanders at the time about the standard language: should it be standard Dutch as spoken in the Netherlands or a (still to be codified) standard form of Flemish ? This incertitude was an additional factor favouring French. As a result, people would often speak dialect at home or with friends but French in all other situations. Even today, it is not uncommon to meet (older) French-speaking "Bruxellois" who are unable to express themselves in standard Dutch but who speak or at least understand Brussels dialect.

A linguistic curiosity is the "Marollien" dialect, based on the Walloon of Liège and heavily influenced by the general (Dutch) Brussels dialect, which used to be spoken mostly in a central section of the city, the "Marolles/Marollen". Today, all Brussels dialects are on the verge of extinction, although some try to revive them (see links).

Nowadays, the Brussels Capital Region is officially bilingual French-Dutch. There are no official statistics on the first language of the Brussels population since the State-run decennial linguistic census has been abolished. All studies carried on can only be estimations. However, according to a 2001 study by Rudi Janssen, a sociolinguist, and a similar study conducted by E. Corijn (both affiliated with the VUB):

51 % of the Brussels population are native French-speakers (monolingual);

8.5 % of the Brussels population are native Dutch-speakers (monolingual);

10.2 % have both Dutch and French as a mother tongue or speak both languages;

9.1% of monolingual French or Dutch-speakers learn the other language later in life (this probably concerns mostly French-speakers who learn Dutch )

19.8% speak French in combination with a language other than Dutch

The lingua franca is French, although knowledge of Dutch is considered highly desirable. Janssen estimates that 35.40% of the population speaks Dutch either as a first or as a second language. One of the consequences of this change of attitude towards the Dutch language is, for example, that most children in Dutch-speaking schools in Brussels do not speak Dutch at home (see the official VGC figures for February, 2006)

The occasional imprecision of linguistic pairing can be quite amusing. Whilst some ancient streets have only their original Dutch name (e.g. Coudenberg), others were originally named in French and have had their later Dutch names revised. For instance until approximately 2004 the Rue du Beau Site in Ixelles/Elsene bore two bilingual nameplates, the older giving, as the Dutch version, the hastily translated Schoon Zicht Straat and the more recent giving the more idiomatic Welgelegenstraat.

It should be noted that due to the growth of the city of Brussels, the periphery, which is institutionally part of Dutch-speaking Flanders, has attracted a large French-speaking population. In some of the municipalities immediately bordering the Brussels Capital Region, the majority of the population is French-speaking, in a few cases numbering over 70%. This is one of the major sources of linguistic conflict in Belgium.

Universities and colleges

Brussels has several universities, the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), the Facultés Universitaires Saint Louis (FUSL), the Katholieke Universiteit Brussel (KUB) and the Royal Military Academy (RMA). A satellite campus of the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) is also located in Brussels: it is called "Louvain-en-Woluwe" or "UCL-Brussels", and hosts the faculty of Medicine of the university.

The Conservatoire Royal and the Koninklijk Conservatorium are drama schools in the city attended by many of the top actors and actresses to come out of Belgium.

Transport

Connections
Brussels is served by Brussels Airport, located in the nearby Flemish municipality of Zaventem, and by the much smaller so-called Brussels South Charleroi Airport, located near Charleroi (Wallonia), some 50km from Brussels. Brussels is also served by direct high-speed rail links: to the United Kingdom by the Eurostar train via the Channel Tunnel; to Amsterdam, Paris and Cologne by the Thalys; and to Cologne and Frankfurt by the German ICE.

Public transport
The Brussels metro dates back to 1976, but underground lines known as premetro have been serviced by tramways since 1968. A comprehensive bus and tram network also covers the city. Brussels also has its own port on the Willebroek canal located in the northwest of the city.

There are four companies managing public transport inside Brussels:

STIB/MIVB (metro, bus, tram; Brussels' Regional services)

NMBS/SNCB (train, organised on a Belgian scale)

De Lijn (buses based in Flanders)

TEC (buses based in Wallonia)

An interticketing system means that a STIB/MIVB ticket holder can use the train or long-distance buses inside the city. The commuter services operated by De Lijn, TEC and SNCB/NMBS will in the next few years be augmented by a metropolitan RER rail network around Brussels.

Since 2003 Brussels has had a car-sharing service operated by the Bremen company Cambio in partnership with STIB/MIVB and local ridesharing company taxi stop. In 2006 shared bicycles were also introduced.

Railway stations
The major stations in Brussels are on the North-South Junction:

Brussels North (French: Gare du Nord, Dutch: Brussel-Noord)

Brussels Central (French: Gare Centrale, Dutch: Brussel-Centraal)

Brussels South (French: Gare du Midi or Bruxelles-Midi, Dutch: Brussel-Zuid) (the Eurostar, Thalys, HST or TGV and ICE international terminal)

Two more stations serve the EU district in Brussels. Trains towards Namur and Luxembourg call at:

Brussels Luxembourg/Luxemburg

Brussels Schuman

The last two stations located in the centre of Brussels (they also are on the North-South Junction and operate only in rush hours) are:

Brussels Congress (French: Bruxelles-Congrès, Dutch:Brussel-Congres)

Brussels Chapel (French: Bruxelles-Chapelle, Dutch: Brussel-Kapellekerk)

Other railway stations in other Brussels municipalities include:

Schaerbeek - Schaarbeek

Etterbeek

Uccle Stalle - Ukkel Stalle

Uccle Calevoet - Ukkel Kalevoet

Jette

Merode

Delta

Saint-Job - Sint-Job

Forest Est - Vorst Oost

Forest Midi - Vorst Zuid

Sint-Agatha-Berchem - Berchem-Sainte-Agathe

Watermael - Watermaal

Boitsfort - Bosvoorde

Boondael - Boondaal

Meiser

Road network
In mediaeval times Brussels stood at the intersection of routes running north-south (the modern Hoogstraat/Rue Haute) and east-west (Gentsesteenweg/Chaussée de Gand-Grasmarkt/Rue du Marché aux Herbes-Naamsestraat/Rue de Namur). The ancient pattern of streets radiating from the Grote Markt/Grand'Place in large part remains, but has been overlaid by boulevards built over the River Zenne/Senne, the city walls and the railway junction between the North and South Stations.

As one expects of a capital city, Brussels is the hub of the fan of old national roads, the principal ones being clockwise the N1 (N to Breda), N2 (E to Maastricht), N3 (E to Aachen), N4 (SE to Luxembourg) N5 (S to Rheims), N6 (SW to Maubeuge), N8 (W to Koksijde) and N9 (NW to Ostend) . Usually named steenwegen/chaussées, these highways normally run straight as a die, but on occasion lose themselves in a labyrinth of narrow shopping streets.

As for motorways, the town is skirted by the European route E19 (N-S) and the E40 (E-W), while the E411 leads away to the SE. Brussels has an orbital motorway, numbered R0 (R-zero) and commonly referred to as the "ring" (French: ring Dutch: grote ring). It is pear-shaped as the southern side was never built as originally conceived, owing to residents' objections.

The city centre, sometimes known as "the pentagon", is surrounded by the "small ring" (Dutch: kleine ring, French: petite ceinture), a sequence of boulevards formally numbered R20. These were built upon the site of the second set of city walls following their demolition. Metro line 2 runs under much of these.

On the eastern side of the city, the R21 (French: grande ceinture, grote ring in Dutch) is formed by a string of boulevards that curves round from Laken (Laeken) to Ukkel (Uccle). Some premetro stations (see Brussels metro) were built on that route. A little further out, a stretch numbered R22 leads from Zaventem to Sint-Job.

Conferences and world fairs

Brussels hosted the famous fifth Solvay Conference in 1927, where physicists like Albert Einstein, Planck, Curie, Lorentz, Dirac, De Broglie, Bohr, Schrödinger, Pauli and Heisenberg discussed the path of the modern physics, specifically the new Quantum Theory. Einstein, disenchanted with Heisenberg's "Uncertainty Principle", remarked "God does not play dice". Bohr replied, "Einstein, stop telling God what to do." (See Bohr-Einstein debates). Seventeen of the twenty-nine attendees were or became Nobel Prize laureates. The building in which the conference took place (see picture) is now occupied by one of the high schools of the city's education system; :fr: Lycée Émile Jacqmain|Lycée Émile Jacqmain.

Brussels hosted the third Congrès international d'architecture moderne (Dutch:Internationaal Congres voor Moderne Architectuur) in 1930.

Two world fairs took place in Brussels, the Exposition universelle et internationale (1935) and the World Expo '58 in 1958. The Atomium, a 103 metre representation of an iron crystal was built for the Expo '58, and is still there, now renovated.

Places of interest

Grand Place (Dutch: Grote Markt, the central market square and the jewel in Brussels' crown. The Grand-Place is Brussels' top tourist attraction justified by the Gothic magnificence of the Town Hall and the Baroque exuberance of the late seventeenth-century guildhouses with the sculptures of :fr:Pierre van Dievoet|Peter van Dievoet surrounding the square.

The Royal Palace of Laeken and the Royal Palace of Brussels.

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (French: Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts, Dutch: Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten) combining four interconnected sections of old masters and modern art collections. Together they make up Belgium's most complete collection of fine art with works by, amongst many, Pieter Bruegel, Rubens, Paul Delvaux and René Magritte.

Brussels is famous for being home to many Belgian comics characters, including The Smurfs, Largo Winch, Tintin and Lucky Luke to name but a few. Throughout Brussels, (also nicknamed Comic City) there are many murals, frescos and even statues celebrating the city's many cartoon heroes.

On the site of the Heysel/Heizel are the Atomium, one of the symbols of Belgium, a remnant of the 1958 World exposition in Brussels, and Mini-Europe, a park which hosts miniature models of famous European buildings.

Manneken Pis: a small bronze fountain sculpture depicting a little boy urinating into the fountain's basin.

Several churches, such as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg, and the Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral.

The Jubilee Arch (French: Les Arcades du Cinquantenaire, Dutch: Triomfboog van het Jubelpark)

La Bourse/De Beurs, the location of the stock market Euronext in Belgium.

De Munt/La Monnaie, an opera house.

Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, an early 19th-century shopping arcade.

The Floral Carpet (not permanent)

Tour and Taxis: a former stockhouse of the Thurn and Taxis family.

Palais Stoclet/Stoclethuis

Maison Horta/Hortahuis

Avenue Louise/Louisalaan, an avenue in the fashionable part of Brussels.

Notable parks

Brussels Park (French: Parc de Bruxelles, Dutch: Warandepark)

Bois de la Cambre or Ter Kamerenbos

Cinquantenaire (Dutch: Jubelpark)

Laeken Park (French: Parc de Laeken, Dutch: Park van Laken)

Woluwe Park (French: Parc de Woluwe, Dutch: Park van Woluwe)

Josaphat Park (French: Parc Josaphat, Dutch: Josaphatpark)

King Baudouin Park (French: Parc Roi Baudouin, Dutch: Koning Boudewijnpark)

Kauberg

Jardin botanique (Dutch: Kruidtuin)

Leopold Park (French: Parc Léopold, Dutch: Leopoldpark)

Jardins du Maelbeek (Dutch: Maalbeektuinen)

Duden Park (French: Parc Duden, Dutch: Dudenpark)

Astrid Park (French: Parc Astrid, Dutch: Astridpark)

Malou Park (French: Parc Malou, Dutch: Park Malou)

Notable people from Brussels==Sports clubs

R.S.C. Anderlecht, football

F.C. Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek, football

R. Union Saint-Gilloise, football

R.R.B.C. Brussels, basketball

Museums

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium

BOZAR-PMSK (The Palace of Fine Arts)

Film Museum

Musical Instrument Museum (MiM)

National Army Museum

Royal Museums of Art and History

Belgian Centre for Comic Strip Art

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences

Other

List of Minister-Presidents of Brussels

Brussels Cross

Brussels sprout - the vegetable named after the city

Art Nouveau

List of metro stations of Brussels

Sonian Forest

Memorial van Damme

Eurovision Song Contest 1987

Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film

Gallery Gabrichidze

The highest building in Brussels is the South Tower (150 m); the most famous probably the Atomium, which is a remnant from the 1958 World Exposition.

Twin cities

Akhisar, Turkey

: Atlanta, Georgia

: Berlin

: Beijing

: Montreal

: Macau

: Madrid

: Washington, D.C.

: Kiev

: Breda

: Prague

Ljubljana, Slovenia

External links

Brussels-Capital Region, official site

Planitram Public transport in the Region of Brussels Capital, unofficial site (in English and French)

Royal Museums of Fine Art of Belgium

Article about the famous Brussels Cartoon Murals

Academie van het Brussels

Académie pour la Défense et l'Illustration du Parler Bruxellois (Marollien)

Concise Guide to Brussels Tourism

20km of Brussels - every year there is a spectacular run with 25,000 runners running 20km

Ommegang Festival

Brussels interactive map

Lucadea.com - 65 Bruxelles beautiful pics

BrusselsTourism The first portal site for Tourism in Brussels, Capital of Europe. Since 1997

tramway in Brussels